In an era where full-size SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade or the Lexus LX dominate the landscape, it’s the small, subcompact models that drive the big sales numbers for automakers. They give buyers the slightly higher seating position they crave as well as the more affordable price tag they require.
Two of the better iterations in the segment for 2025 are the Kia Seltos and Toyota Corolla Cross. The Seltos is a class leader in terms of interior space, while one might be hard-pressed to find a person who hasn’t heard the name “Corolla” before. In this case, it’s the crossover-based version of Toyota’s best-selling compact car.
Each offers a unique value proposition, so let’s take a look.
2025 Kia Seltos
The Kia Seltos is a repeat winner of our Best Buy Award in the subcompact SUV class. The little SUV already gets accolades due to its long list of standard convenience and safety technologies, class-leading interior space, surprising performance, and best-in-class warranty. Even though the Seltos received a major update last year, Kia freshened the interior for 2025 with improved materials and finishes. Seltos offers a big bang for the buck. Pricing starts at $25,965, including destination charges. View listings near you.
Kia Seltos Highlights
Optional turbo engine: At 146 horsepower, the standard 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine found in the Seltos LX, S, and EX is plenty fine for daily commuting. However, if you want just a little extra under your right foot, Kia has you covered with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine producing 195 hp for the X-Line and SX models.
Flexibility is king: “Affordable” means different things to different buyers. With five different trim levels, Kia ensures buyers can get the version they want at a price they can handle. Pricing starts below $27K for a well-equipped model, but Kia makes sure you can add plenty of goodies and still meet your budget.
Protecting the owner: It’s tough to argue against superior warranty coverage. Seltos has a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Both exceed Toyota’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Read our Kia Seltos Expert Review or see 2025 Kia Seltos for sale near you
2024 Toyota Corolla Cross
Toyota is often the best-selling automaker in the world for a reason: it makes quality products and leverages that reputation — and those vehicle names — whenever possible. The number of Corolla variants continues to grow each year. The Corolla Cross is now in its second year and remains a popular choice in the segment as it borrows exterior styling from not only the Corolla but the RAV4 as well.
Importantly, it does that while keeping prices below $25,000, which is critical to success in this segment. Prices start at $23,610. View listings near you.
Toyota Corolla Cross Highlights
Becoming cooler: Yeah, excellent gas mileage is important in this group, but anytime you can up the cool factor, that’s a competitive advantage. In this case, the automaker is expanding its list of offerings in the family with the Nightshade edition. With 18-inch gloss black sport alloy wheels, black and red fabric trimmed interior with red accent stitching, and black accented head and tail lamps, if you were going to call any Corolla Cross cool, this is the one.
Becoming safer: All 2024 Corolla Cross models come standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, Toyota’s suite of active safety systems. The new system includes enhancements made possible by system sensors with improved detection capability. Improved lane recognition delivers the refined performance of Lane-Departure Alert with Steering Assist and Lane-Tracing Assist.
Becoming greener: Toyota offers a hybrid version of the Corolla Cross, albeit with a higher price tag. The hybrid model offers plenty of power, so if you like to get to places first, you can do that and save gas.
Read our Toyota Corolla Cross Expert Review or see 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross for sale near you
Similarities
It’s a tough call to choose one or the other. They offer so many common elements choosing one over the other is really a coin toss.
Conclusion
There is no bad option here, but the winner — and still champion — is the Seltos.
It’s bigger on the inside, and when considering each cubic inch, the Seltos is still the class king. However, a second and underrated feature is the exterior styling, which, for the Seltos, is a big differentiator.
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Kia Seltos vehicles and New 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specs
| 2025 Kia Seltos | 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 146 hp @ 6,200 rpm | 169 hp @ 6,600 rpm |
| Torque | 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm | 151 lb-ft @ 4,400-4,800 rpm |
| Transmission | CVT | CVT |
| Fuel Economy | 28 mpg city/34 mpg highway/31 mpg combined | 31 mpg city/33 mpg highway/32 mpg combined |
| Also Available | 1.6-liter turbo 4-cylinder; 8-speed automatic; AWD | AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | N/R |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 103.5 inches | 103.9 inches |
| Overall Length | 172.6 inches | 175.6 inches |
| Width | 70.9 inches | 71.9 inches |
| Height | 63.4 inches | 64.8 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 34.8 feet | 35.4 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 40.0 inches | 39.5 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 38.4 inches | 39.1 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.4 inches | 42.9 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 38.0 inches | 32 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 55.5 inches | 52.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 54.7 inches | 52.4 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 26.6/62.8 cubic feet | 25.5/Not Published |
